Metal article treating apparatus



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METAL ARTICLE TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 III f l INVENTOR: L. KEzAs 7112555.

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METAL ARTICLE TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR: .F. KBA s THEE 5.

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Feb. 4, 1958 E. K. BA STRES S METAL ARTICLE TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1952 IT m3 METAL ARTICLE TREATING APPARATUS Ernest K. Bastress, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Surface Combustion Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 5, 1952, Serial No. 286,150

15 Claims. (Cl. 266-4) stability in the articles during quenching. Thevarious human factors involved in transferring work from the furnace to the press, and in operating the press, taken' with the excessive and variable exposure of the articles to the atmosphere, results in non-uniform articles and a relatively high proportion of rejected articles. This invention provides for virtual elimination of the human factor in this operation, and for many improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming a part of this disclosure,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a steel heating (hardening) furnace, quench press, and associated mechanism according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the furnace showing article conveying apparatus therein.

Fig. 3 is a section in plan of the furnace taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational cross-section of the furnace.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the furnace charging mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the furnace charging mechanism.

Fig. 7 shows the furnace charging mechanism in plan.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the quench press.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the press. a

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view in plan of the press.

Fig. 11 is a partial rear elevation of the press.

Fig. 12 is a partial section of the press quench mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a partial section of mechanism for moving the quench ring and plunger.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of press loading mechanism.

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of mechanism of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the press quench ring.

Fig. 17 is an elevation of the quench ring.

Fig. 18 shows an elevational section of a plunger stripper mechanism along the line 18-18 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is an elevational section of the press quench chute.

Fig. 20 shows a detail of the press cross-head.

Figs. 21 through 25 illustrate safety mechanism for the press.

Fig. 26 is a hydraulic schematic diagram for the mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 27 is an electrical schematic diagram for appara tus illustrated.

Fig. 28 is a graphic illustration of the time cycle of operations.

Fig. 29 is a graphic illustration of the cam designs on the timing cam shaft.

This invention provides a furnace and quench press for producing press quenched articles which comprises means for delivering a succession of substantially identical and identically aligned articles to each of several channel-like conveyors through the furnace, the articles in one conveyor not necessarily being identical to the articles in another conveyor, although for purposes of this illustration they may all be presumed equal in size, shape and alignment; means for delivering articles individually to each of several quench press loaders, preferably through a duct containing a protective gas atmosphere, loading each article onto one of several press quench stations ina position corresponding to its position as it was delivered to the furnace conveyor, simultaneously press quenching each of the articles while applying individually controlled pressure to each article, and subsequently discharging the articles from the 'press.

The press itself provides a compounded hydraulic cylinder means for moving a plurality of quench plugs or dies rapidly each into engaging position with an article, and under low press pressure, and means for applying high pressure individually to each of the quench plugs.

Quench oil valves are provided for rapidly supplying large volumes of quench oil simultaneously with the application of high pressure to the articles quenched, and

the valvesare constructed to reduce to a minimum dripping of oil onto hot articles as they are being positioned for quenching. Provision is made for forcing the press to balk and reverse, eliminating the press quench part of the normal automatic cycle, if the quench plug, or die, fails to properly seat on any one of the articles to be press quenched, thus safeguarding the quench plug or die as well as avoiding mutilation of the misplaced article or quenching without proper pressure of other si multaneously quenched articles. All such articles leaving the press unquenched are automatically segregated from normally quenched articles, and the automatic operation of the apparatus is not otherwise interrupted.

Many other specially desirable features are provided as will appear.

Referring to Fig. l, the preferred apparatus embodying the present invention comprises a heating furnace 35 and a quench press 36 for press quenching articles delivered thereto from the furnace. A furnace charging mechanism is generally indicated at 37 for charging articles delivered thereto by a delivery hopper 38. A furnace discharge chute 39, shown in Fig. 3, delivers articles heated in the furnace to the press 36 for quenching. Quenched articles are discharged from the press through a chute 41 to a belt conveyor 42 in a quench tank 43 by. which the articles are discharged from the quench tank and delivered to other mechanism for such further processing as may be required. Hydraulic and control mechanism are contained in a housing 44 from which suitable electrical and hydraulic conduits run under a catwalk 45 to the furnace and press mechanism for operating the latter.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the furnace comprises a steel shell or binding 46 lined with suitable insulation 47 and refractory 48. Heat is supplied to the furnace by radiant tubes 51 which are internally heated, by combustion of fuel therein by burners not shown. The radiant tubes are of the return bend, or U, type. They are supported at the bend on tube support brackets 52, and at the firing and exhaust ends in a removable bung 53 by means of which the tubes may be rethe work therein. Such an atmospheremay consist of a .3 gas containing primarily about 20% carbon monoxide, 40% hydrogen and40%' nitrogen, with relatively small, but usually carefully controlled, amounts of carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and water vapor .as. is wel1..-known.

Ihlets 54 in the furnace wafllare, provided fonadmission back piece 56', top and bottom center piecesf ST'ancl "58'.

and top iandbottorn front pieces 61 and"-62'forming between them thedesired open sided'cluct or. chann'elithrough whichthe rings may be'pushed. The clearances between the ringsW' and" the rails" 5.-are subhl-as to :allow the rings to bepushed without bidding, yet not'so excessiveas to invite displacing a ring froma line. straightfthrough the rail. Inasmuch "asaa"pushermechanism37 is provided to advance the rings in adjacent rails alternately, adjacent rails arep'aired and-discharge into .a common funnel-pieceflthe chute'39; 'Allrings'entering eachpair of rails should be" of the'same' size, "but sizes "discharged from ditferent' 'chutes39*may. vary; as will "appear; At the end' of -each railf abuilt=up"lip64 is providdto. prevent-- rings from discharging into "'the' chute 'except when positively-pushed over 'the 'lip by-the pusherfme'chanismr Rings enter the-rails on edge and properly alignedfeach with its internahtaper or'other characteristic of-shape similarly 'aligned,-and are conveyed to the chute in that manner. A turning "device" for turning the rings-0n their side-as they leave' the furnace is provided in'the form of a tubularscrew-'65; The: rails 55' are=supported inthe furnaceon cross-supports 66, and at the'charge end on a water-cooled bracketfiZ-and are free toexpahd towards the discharge-end-on the supports; The chute'39-comprises. two tongues 68; each of' which :lies between the vertical sides'56 and 62'ofa rail'to maintaindateral alignment-therewith, but"'isa'xiall'y 'spacedfromthe-bottom piece 58 of'the rail to provide for longitudinal expansion of the rail in the furnace. ment of the chutewith respect to-the rails is maintained by proper-location of the chute 'on'its support on the furnace shell 46.

Referring. more particularly: to -Figs; 5, 6 and 7, the 1 furnace charging :mechanism 37 comprises. tpusher heads 71 ;in each of the rails 55 fop pushing against rings in The relative vertical align furnace without reducing the time the individual rings 3 each remain in the furnace.

The means for moving the cross-pieces 75 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 81 which actuates a rack 82 between pinion 83 and idler roller 84, the pinion 83 in turn moving on a shaft 85 supported on bearings 89, and which moves a similar pinion 83 on the-otherend of the shaft 85, and the pinions .83 -.turn pinions -86 on shafts 8'7, whichtare supported in bearings 88, and pinions 91 on the other ends of-shafts 87 turnirin racks 92:on-cross-pieces75: As the pinions 91 move racks *92,' thus'"rnoving'cross=pieces :75; the cross-pieces move in opposite directions in their re spective rslide'iways'i 93. Thus 135i theshydraulic: cylinder moves the rack 82 upward, the lower group of pusher heads 71 move back to allow anadditional ring to enter the respective rails, and simultaneously the upper pusher heads 71 move forward to advance the rings in the correspondingrails: one position-.thereimand to move. theklast ring. in..those rails over the lips. 64 therein; and.into..-tl1e discharge chutes:39.

Referring .now. .more particularly to- Figs. .8,.-9, l0 and 11, the press comprises. a; base. 101,. two vertical columns 102 and 103, andatoplM-forming thetstructural frame for the press. ,j'lihe.base columns-andatop are maintained in alignmentbysuitableflkeys- 105 .at the joints. by bolts 106fpassingjthroughethecolumns; Aslide rail member 107is1 bolted totea'ch'rof the vertical columns: to.serve-as -a'way'for a cross'.head.108:of the press. The cross'head comprisesupper andilower cross: elements orbars 111 and" lllisupported on ..'side. bars..113..and 114 which are adapted'tolbe movedoonetherrail. members 107. The cross head ismoved up and downbn theslide r'ails 107 by amain crosshead hydraulic cylinder..115 and its ram 116, the cylinder being, supplied with .hydraulic fluid throughrupper andlowerconduits ,117 and.118. Alignm61t0fth6if05h6&d with respect to..the slide rails may be adjustedby'adju'stment of suitable. wedge blocks .121

-movable by bolts 122 to adjustJthe .cross ,head inany lateral-direction, .or, 'to some small degree, totadjust 'the angular alignment ofthe cross-headwith stationary parts of-the-press:

The quench press is designed to simultaneously quench .four rings which may;.bi1t' neednot, be identical. Each. of

therings-is'oman individual base and secured under individuallyapplied hydraulic pressure. There are therefore provided-*fourquenching stations or positions, and the cross-head is provided with means for delivering hydraulic sprefssure fmmm'fsingle"source of pressure, and without flexible conneetiong tofour'individual movable'dies or, in this case, plugs: "The" upper" cross bar 111, which as a part of the cross'- l.n ..ad 108" is moved by'the main. hydraulic cylinder IISZ- is-secured totheritmllfi thereof as by bolts l23uin attachingplate 124-shown in" Fig. 20. The ram ofza-zchute 72 from the" delivery hopper 38, and as the ber. 73 which is in: turn securedrtma slideab1e;bracket: 74 T- Which is securely held to a slide waysomatrossahead f/S bya hinged gate76?which isusecurelyi heldzin placeaby fast-threaded. screw 77 Thus the= pusher heads are-normally actuated by the motion-of theoross-piece -75-; An upper cross piece is securedfto alternate pusher-headg-one 116 is axially drilled to pass hydraulic fluidfrom the mamwcylinder' 115 through a" central, ram passage 125, (Fig. 20), through pipe 126 throughthe'hollow portionof thetfabricatedaupper=crossxbar 111 to aquench plughy- 'izdraulic cylinder manifold lfl through aneedle type flow control valve 128=which adjustably controls the. rate of flow of hydraulicfluid therethrough toth'e manifold127. A-:parallel:.fluidupath from pipe- 126 to-manif'old. 127 is providedthrough combination swing-gatetype check'valve in each'pairof rails, and a-"lowercrossfpiece isysecured topusher-heads -in theremaining rails iirthepairsi BY moving'one cross-pece' forwarders the other movesback, four rings are advanced'to wand discharge'thropghlthe respective chutes'j2a9, Upon reversal of the motionof only from the pipe 126 to the manifold 127. Hydraulic fluid frontstheimanifold 127 'is' delivered by pipes 132 to each ofafountquench plug hydraulic cylinders 133. The combined area of the four quench plug cylinders 133 is .z less,:.-preferabtj about 10% less, than the area of'the main each cross-piece each crime. other rails; in the. respective pairs of rails will dischargearingthrough;therespective chutes 39. .By. so utilizingtttrailsdo. d-ischargerings in;

cylinder 115 so that the force exerted by the'main'c'ylinderzzexceedsithamofiithe individual cylinders. When the individual quench plug cylinders are engaged, -th-eir;respecti-v'e-aamsuliilzlwill.= float in the cylinders 133 and; thus 'rexert equal pressures, or pressures corresponding-to the areas 05 lthe respective: cylinders: 133, -the" cross-bead;

groups ot'four,.itispossible to.reduce theglepgtlntotvthfiii maining in a fully down position.

-Referring more particularly to Figs. 12 and 13, the press base 101 comprises a spherically seated adjustable anvil 135 for each quenching station, each such anvil being provided with a ring member 136 for centering the article, or ring, to be quenched on the anvil. A quench oil releasing' valve 137 is provided for each anvil, and upon operation discharges quench oil upwards through a central passage 138 in the anvil. The quench oil valve 137 comprises a hollow body 141 secured to the anvil by bolts 142 and adapted to receive quench oil from a conduit 143 through an aperture in the valve body 141. A vertically movable fluted valve plunger 144 disposed in the valve body 141 and having an end extending upwards through the anvil closes off quench oil when it is in its raised position, the upper shoulders of the flutes 145 resting against the underside of the anvil and serving as a stop for upward motion of the valve plunger. In its upward position, the top of the plunger 144 is below the level of the surface of the anvil so that rings may be slid onto and off from the anvil with the quench oil turned off. The valve 137 is opened by a valve operating rod 146 which moves the valve plunger 144 downward against a spring 147 to start the oil quench cycle, opening the fluted passages in the plunger to flow of quench oil from the conduit 143. The bottom of the spring 147 is seated on an apertured spring retainer 148 in the valve body.

A quench plug 151 for each quenching station is supported on the lower end of a floating rod 152, the floating rod being vertically movably supported on the lower cross bar 112 of the cross-head 108. Each quench plug will be adapted to press quench the particular size of ring being positioned thereunder. The valve operating rod 146 is supported in a center passage through the plug 151 and the floating rod 152, and it is prevented from dropping out of that passage by a shoulder on the operating rod which rests on the upper surface of the quench plug 151. The floating rod 152 is slotted at about the upper end of the operating rod 146, and an operating rod stop member 153 supported from the lower cross bar 112 by brackets 154 extends through the slot in the floating rod with clearance to allow the floating rod to move vertically up or down freely with respect to the stop member 153, and the stop member 153 acts as a stop for relative upward mo tion of the operating rod with respect to the lower cross bar 112. As the cross head 108 moves downward, the floating rod 152 is in a downward position, and so also is the valve operating rod 146. When the valve operating rod comes to rest on the valve plunger, it moves upwards within the floating rod until it rests on the operating rod stop member 153, then it is forced downward with further downward motion of the cross-head and its lower cross bar, this further downward motion serving to move the valve plunger 144 downward and releasing the quench oil for upward flow through the oil passage 138 in the anvil and for outward and upward flow through grooves in the surface of the quench plug 151.

A second source of quench oil for the ring W to be quenched in the quench station on the anvil is provided by a quench ring 155. Four quench rings, one for each quenching station, are mounted in a quench ring frame 156 in such a manner as to provide a quench oil manifold 157 for each ring in a passage formed by an annular groove in the quench ring frame next adjacent the outer surface of the quench ring 155. Quench oil is supplied to the quench oil manifold 157 by a flexible, or flexibly jointed, conduit 158 and an internal oil passage 161 in the quench ring frame communicating with each of the four quench oil manifolds 157 therein. An access plate 159 is provided for each quench oil manifold.

The quench fing 155 is annular in shape and is provided with a circular series of valve thimble holes 162 adapted to receive vertically movable annularly grooved valve thimbles 163. The annular grooves 164 in the thimbles 163 serve as passages for quench oil from the inanitom 157 through inlet and outlet holes 165 and 166 pro vided in the quench ring. These holes are so aligned with the thimbles that when all thimbles in a quench ring are in a down position, as shown in Fig. 12, a passage for quench oil is opened from the manifold 157 to the interior of the quench ring through each annular groove in each thimble, thus rapidly flooding the interior of the quench ring with quench oil. The thimbles are each normally suspended in the holes 162 in the quench ring by springs 167 in such a position as to prevent flow of quench oil through inlet and outlet holes 165 and 166 in the quench ring. The springs force the thimbles 163 up against a valve operating ring 168 which in turn normally rests against retainers 169 which are bolted to the frame 156. It may be said that the valve operating ring rests on the several thimbles of a quench ring. During a quench period the valve operating ring is moved downward to move the thimbles and thus open the valves of the quench ring to admit quench oil to the quenching station. Valve ring operating bolts 171 carried on structure forming an extension of the opera-ting rod stop member 153 depress the valve operating ring simultaneously with the movement of the valve plunger 144 by its operating rod 146, both being operated by downward movement of the cross head.

As the cross head is raised the oil quench valves are closed by their respective springs. The quench valves (thimbles) in the quench ring are so close to the outlet holes that very little quench oil remains in the quench ring to drain away. The floating rod 152 falls by gravity until the top wall of its internal slot rests on the top of the operating rod stop member 153, and the operating rod also falls by gravity until its shoulder comes to rest on the shoulder of the quench plug. The upward movement of the cross head also allows the rams for the quench plug hydraulic cylinders to fall to the bottom of the cylinders, this leaving a clearance of a substantial fractionof an inch between the rams 134 and the floating rods 152. When the cross head reaches its raised position, suflicient clearance is provided between the quench ring frame 156 and the rod 146 to permit the frame to be moved horizontally to slide the 4 now quenched rings W off the anvil and its centering ring 136.

As the floating rods 152 move upwards, the quenched rings W may be frozen onto the quench plugs 151, as illustrated in Fig. 18, a view taken on line 18--18 of Fig. 16. Provision is made for mechanically stripping the rings from the quench plugs by adjustable stripper stops 179 which are hingedly secured by bolts to a portion of the frame 156. Bolts 188 passing through slots in the stops 179 are used to adjust the position of the stops to allow the rods 152 to pass upwards and retain and strip from those rods the rings W.

The horizontal motion of the quench rings is obtained by a hydraulic cylinder 172, more clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 17, having hydraulic conduits 173 and 174 thereto. The ram 175 of this cylinder moves a rack 176 between an idler roll 177 and a pinion 178 on a shaft 181 which is secured to the press base 101, the shaft in turn moving pinions 182 on either end of the shaft 181 which in turn mesh with racks 183 under rollers 184 at either side of the quench ring frame 156 to move the same laterally, or horizontally, from over the quench station. As the quench ring frame is moved by the cylinder 172 and its rack and pinion apparatus the quench ring frame is supported by a shoe 185 on a slide 186 to provide close clearance between the quench ring and the anvil. This is primarily to guide the rings Was they are pulled off the anvil and dropped over the side thereof into the press discharge chute 41. The clearance is preferably suflicrently close between the anvil and the quench ring to force most of the quench oil to flow over the p of the quench ring and down the chute 41 into the oil quench tank 43. When the quench ring frame 1 6. is moved to its discharge position, the racks 183 7 e'xtend' over thecatwalk 44,-"so :a'guard pipe 187 is-pro vided orra-aiyoke 198PtQflenclosc;those racks in ftheir extended position;

l The quench' ring frame "is raised; before :returnrng' to' the shaft 194" turn .withfihe :shaft to fraise a yoke 198 by extension: rods 1'97; .thus raising the tracks '186fjon the' yoke upon'which the 'queuchringjframe slides..- I

The lrings W are il'oaded onto therquench press anvil by a press loader"mechanism78"whichicomprises-aloader head .2G1fshown'in:plan*iri "Fig. 16' and "in' elevation in Figs. 14 and"15'. "Astheii'rings slide downthe furnace discharge 'chuteiiwfthrongh its .screw outlet- 65, they drop onto a "loader table" 202' and" slide up "tothe quench ring frame.1'56"which,.in its normal," or quench; position acts as a stop for rings "from the "furnacedischarge eh'ute. The' rings 'may' reboundfrom the:quench ring frame, but Willbe' confined 'by"the sides of the table 202 and the loader head 201. 211. will be understood that -as rings are pushed 'one 'at a'time bythe furnace loader into the rails 55;they discharge one"at-a time through each' individual discharge chute39. The rings are discharged onto. the loader table at aboutthe end. of 'the quench cycle, andi'aften'the ring has'ibeenstopped by the quench ringiframe, the frame isrnoved -by hydraulic cylinder. '172 'to'discharge thei nowifquenched ring W- within its quench'ring "155. As. the 'frame Teaches the end of itsdischargetravel; a loader hydraulic cylinderl'ztlimoves a rack.2tl4 whichm'oves'between a guide roller and a pi'nioriztldto turn ashatt 207Tinsbearings 209 which in turnmoves arms208 on. either end of the. shaft andthus moves a pusher bar 211 linked thereto and guided on rails" 212. The fourloaderheadsi'201 iri' loader tables 202 are. moved by bolts"213 secured tothe pusherbaf'Zll; the bolts moving in'slots provided in the loader'tables. The limit 'of motion for-the loader heads which stops them when the rings are properly centered on theanvils 135 is provided by an adjustable stop' 214 against Whichan armon the pinion 2il6-comes to rest. The 'stop comprises a screw 214 which .isadjust'ablethrou'gha handle 215-. on the' front offthe press throu'ghsprockets 216 and, 217 and chain 218. Residual oilj-on the-anvil .after"the' quench operation is drained througha passage 2191-11 the. anvihso'that the arivilis substantially dry when the next succeeding (ring ismoved in position thereon.

The furnaceand press just' described in some] detail will ordinarily operate on an autornaticicyclewhich is electrically controlled. and hydraulically. operated. The electrical and hydraulic elements of the apparatus which are a mechanical part ofthe furnace or-press-.-are shovm thereon' in their normal. operating relationships, and are alsoshown, or representedon the hydraulic. and electricalf diagrams constituting, Figs." 26 audj27 respectively. Such. electrical and" hydraulic. apparatus .5 as. hydraulic pumps, motors therefor and controls thereon, together with the usual control-panel typeofrapparatusisrepresented in Figs. 26and. 27, butwillbe locatedinmhehydraulic'and electrical housing'44 as-s-hown. onFig. 1, with the necessary conduits running under. the-catwalk 45 to the furnace and press.

"To operate the apparatus justfdescri.bed, .an electric pumpm'otorfZZldrives a highpressure rarrr -purnp-222 and a low pressure vram. pump. 223-.which-together form the pumping source for hydraulicioil tooperatewthe:rnain ramhydraulic cylinder 115..and the quenchmlugzhydraulic.cylinders..133. The-motor. 22.1 alsocdrives, on a common.shaft'224.= a hydraulic controls: pumpi228' which furnishes-oil .undernptessure:xtoimperate. various-control seems motionseand pilot valve cylinders'bf the ap a-ratusyand also a hydraulic motor? 231 *for-a timingcamshaft 23,2. Theapreferred' operating -;press-ures for the three pumps are abc' i 1t p:- s iffor" the controls pump 2 28, 300

for the" high pressures "pump Of course any other pressure which willfprope'rly and safelyoperatethe necessary hydraulic' equipmentand-provide suitable'pressures during queuching will" sufli'ce.

' 'Hydraulic oil is drawn from 'as'snmp tank 2 25through a strainer 226 and a conduit -227 by thecoutrols pump- 228= and: is delivered through: a controls oil manifold 233' to various cam ope'r'ated 'v'alves, {pilot oil' operated hydraulic/waives and tdthe-hj draulic motor 231 whose speed is controlled'- byi a suitable needle valve type speed control valve- 235. An-electrically operated-- solenoid valve 236 is provided for: automatically starting and stopping the'hydraulic motor 231,:a'i1d a manual value: 237- is alsoprov ided to manually step the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic oil diseharge from the hydraulic motor runs through-a conduifi 238back to thesump'tanlc 225; "The hydraulic #motor; through -'a'-* speed reducer 234,- T drives a timing --cam @shaft -232 whose cams operate hydraulic valves and electrical "controls and l thereby control the sequential operation of the furnace' andpress mechamsm.

Hydraulic oil foroperatingt'he mainhydraulic'cylinder is drawn tfrom thesump tanlt" 225 through-a strainer 242 a-nd' a conduit 243 by 'lowpressure' pump 223 and high 1 pressure pump 222,- both of-which are of the positive displacemeuttype.

*Rot'ation' =of thecamshaftg through -a rducer 234, controls movementsunder normal: operation to follow theroh'owin preferred sequence,- as illustrated in' Fig. 28,

by suifa'ble eam positions 'as 'illustrated iii Fig.29;it being understood that some obvioushhanges in timing, sequence,

or overlapping of 'movements'may be tolerated:

' (1) The. cross}licaci-"is heldifi-fully' raised position-by ram 116'.

(2) The furnace pusher heads 71 deliver*new-work into the furnace under the -eontrolcf hydraulic pxisher cylinder- Sirand -eject -hot-- wo'rk throu'gh chute '59 'to the quenchmachine 86; 011 its press loader' 78.

(3)- The quench ring 'frame' 156 slides-to unloading position moved by hydraulic cylinder172,' dropping rings W intotthequenchdank lfa through chute 41-.

' (4) 'The quench' ring frame is' lifted-by' hydraulic cylinder 191.

(5) The quench pressloader*-78 delivershot ringsW -to theopress hydraulic "cylinder 203, locating them on the anvils in: the quenchposi-tion or station.

6) i Theaquenchpressloader returns.

(7) "The quench ring frame returnsto its-normal position-zunder the quench plugs.

' (8) .The quench ring' framedrops to-its position above the anvils.

(9)5'The cross head cylinder115 lowers the cross head; andithe quenchplugs seat" on t the anvils. Further movement causesihe quen'chplug cylinders 133 'toba'ck up audaincreases thepres'sure therein, asw'e'll as-operating the. quench valvesto -fioo'd-the Work W" withi quench o'il.

(10)."As 'the crosshead.lreaches the lower end of its strokeithethydraulic-'motor 'zfal is stopped-and wqueuch 70"q1 1ench:plugs,. the: rings.then- -.falli ng.:baclo onthe anvil within the quench:ring.

' '('12 The cross; head...is ,held; .in- .fully. -.raised positiont by ram 116. aridithe automatic. operation cyclerisure quires about 20 seconds, of which 12% seconds are used for the various motions and the quench time is set to 7% seconds.

As is observed from a study of the hydraulic diagram of Fig. 26, all movements by hydraulic cylinders except those involving the cross head cylinder 115 are performed on oil delivered from controls pump 228, while the oil volume for ram cylinder 115, and quench plug cylinders 133, is furnished by ram pumps 222 and 223.

In automatic operation the hydraulic system performs as follows:

Operation 1.-A cross head lift solenoid valve 248 is energized by a solenoid 253 and the hydraulic motor solenoid valve 236 is energized by a solenoid 254 to start the hydraulic motor 231, thus starting the automatic cycle. The hydraulic motor rotates the cam shaft through the speed reducer 234 on oil volume from the hydraulic controls pump 228, the speed of rotation being controlled by speed control valve 235. The oil delivery from ram pumps 222 and 223 through the hydraulic valve 246 is to the lower, or rod, end of the ram cylinder 115 through conduit 255 and check valve 256 therein to conduit 118 and through a check valve portion of valve 251, to raise the ram 116 and the attached cross head 108. Solenoid 253 moves solenoid valve 248 to the right thus delivering oil from manifold conduit 233 through conduit 247, through the solenoid valve 248, through a conduit 258 to hydraulic pilot cylinder 261 which moves the hydraulic cross head valve 246 to the left, exhausting hydraulic oil from hydraulic pilot cylinder 262 through conduit 263, solenoid valve 248, and conduit 264 to the sump tank 225, diagrammatically indicated by T.

As the main ram 116 moves up, hydraulic oil discharges from the upper or head end of the cross head cylinder 115 through the central ram passage 125 and speed control needle valve 128 and the combined needle and check valve 131 to the head ends of the quench plug cylinders 133 as they are extended by gravity, and through the cross head valve 246 and conduits 117 and 265 to sump tank 225.

Operation 2, r 2a.The furnace pusher pushes one set of four rings on the extension stroke of the furnace loader hydraulic cylinder 81, or another set of four rings on the withdrawal stroke of cylinder 81 as already described. This is provided by cam 266 on a 50% speed reduction gear 259 driven by gear 260 on shaft 232, the cam moving valve 267 to one of its two positions to shift valve 268 to one of two positions by pilot cylinders 269 and 270. To move valve 267 one way each revolution of the cam shaft, a reduction gear is shown, but an indexing type of valve may be used. In one position of valve 268, when pilot oil pressure is applied to pilot cylinder 269, oil under pressure is directed through conduit 271 to the rod end of cylinder 81 with conduit 272 discharging oil from the head end thereof through a cooler 280 to the tank 225, and in the other position valve 268 shifts the porting and reverses flow through conduits 271 and 272. Cam 273 on the cam shaft 232 moves hydraulic valve 274 to direct oil delivery from the manifold 233 to the furnace pusher hydraulic cylinder 81 through valves 268 and 275. Valve 275 is held open by a cam 276 on the cross head only when the cross head is fully raised, so the furnace pusher cylinder is thus allowed to operate only when the cross head is raised. A needle valve 277 and a shut-off valve 278 are provided respectively in conduit 279 between valves 274 and 275 to control the speed at which the pusher cylinder 81 may operate, and to provide for preventing motion of the cylinder 81 during manual operation of the quench press as may be required for adjustment of dies, motions and the like. The shut-off valve is provided primarily so that the adjustment of the needle valve need not be disturbed during manual operations. A check valve 281 is provided in conduit 279 to prevent leakage from causing premature movement of the furnace pusher when valve 275 has been shifted to its off, or alternate, position. Operation 3.A cam 282 on the cam shaft operates a hydraulic valve 283 on valve 288 to open a pilot oil line 284 from a pilot cylinder 287 to the sump tank 225. When the cross head cylinder is in fully raised position, valve 285 is depressed to open a pilot oil conduit to a pilot cylinder on valve 288 to oil pressure. This shifts valve 288 to a second position directing flow of oil from manifold 233 through conduit 173 to the head end of the quench ring frame slide cylinder 172 for its extension stroke, sliding the quench ring frame from over the quench positions. As the cylinder 172 extends,

valve 291 is operated by a cam 292 on rack 176 blocking flow of pilot oil through conduit 272 to solenoid -valve 248 to prevent any further movement of the cross head while the quench rings are out of position. The speed of the extension and return strokes of cylinder 172 is controlled by a needle valve 293 in conduit 295, a shut-off valve 294 also being provided for purposes of manual operation for set-up and the like.

Operation 4.-When the quench ring frame cylinder 172 is fully extended, valve 296 is shifted by cam 297 on rack 176 to direct pilot oil to pilot cylinder 298 to shift valve 301 to its second position. Valve 302 is depressed by a cam 303 on the cam shaft to direct delivery of oil through valve 301 and freely through the check valves 304 and 305 to the head end of quench frame lift hydraulic cylinder 191. The rod end of cylinder 191 is open to drain to the sump tank 225 through valve 301. Rate of travel during extension and return strokes of cylinder 191 is determined by the setting of needle valve 306 in conduit 307, a shut-off valve 308 also being provided. A check valve 311 prevents reverse flow in conduit 307 from cylinder 191 through valve 302 (Figs. 14 and 17).

Operation 5.-A cam 312 on the cam shaft depresses a valve 313 to direct oil delivery through valve 314 and normally closed valve 315 (which has been opened by the extension of cylinder 203) to the rod end of the quench press loader cylinder 203 to begin its delivery, or extension, stroke. Maximum speed of cylinder 203 during delivery and return strokes is governed by the setting of a needle valve 316 in conduit 317, a shut-off valve 318 also being provided. As valve 313 is held depressed by the cam 312 on the camshaft, the quench press loader cylinder 203 continues its delivery stroke. A cam 321 moved by loader cylinder 203 begins to depress the plunger of valve 315 to start restricting dis-' charge of oil from the head end of cylinder 203 to provide a deceleration action for the ring loader for the press, constituting the valve 315 a deceleration valve for the loader. As cylinder 203 approaches the end of its delivery stroke deceleration valve 315 is closed completely, and final movement to complete the stroke and positioning of the rings W on the anvils is controlled by discharge of oil from the head end of cylinder 203 through a needle valve 322, which thus provides a minimum speed for the delivery stroke of the loader cylinder 2023.

Operation 6.The cam shaft releases valve 313 to direct pump delivery of oil freely through check valve 323 to the head end of the press loader cylinder 203 and to open the rod end thereof to the sump tank 225 to begin the return stroke of the loader heads 201 (Figs. 14 and 17).

Operation 7.-The camshaft releases valve 283 to open pilot cylinder 287 to pressure from manifold 233. The area of pilot cylinder 287 is approximately four times that of pilot cylinder 286 at the other end of valve 288 hence valve 288 is shifted by diflierential pressure, porting delivery of the pump 228 to the rod end of quench ring frame slide cylinder 172 for its return stroke.

Operation 8.-When the quench ring frame slide .cyliner 172 is fully returned at the end of operation 7', valve 296 is shifted by cam 297 to direct oilto pilot cylinder 298 to move valve 301 to its .first position as shown, I 

